The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1887-07-30

strict Observance of Correct Laws of
Iife-Dcscription of ~ "Family's" Daily
Observation-Disclosures and Personal
Clcanlincss-Good Old Age.
Frederick Evans, elder of the Shakers
society, now i'll the 10Th year of his Age,
recently visited New York, and gave me an
account of the health and working habits of
tho members of his community. He is i'll
excellent condition, mentally and physically,
and expects to he spared to do much good
work i'll the interest of humanity. MY own
habitS," said the elder, shave been formed
after years Of study and experiment.. Forty
years ago had consumption. By tho strict
observance of correct laws of life, my health
has gradually improved, and was never
better than it is at present"
II understood that there are seventeen
societies, each society consisting of several
families, nll living separately!
"Yes, each family maintains an indcpcnd-
cnt existence. For instance, at Mount Leb-
anon, where live, in village about milo
i'll length, there arc six families, each being
comnu0ity i'll itself, owning property and
managing its own affairs. There are four
elders i'll ench family, two males and two
females, and four deacons, two males and
two females"
"!Arc the habits of the different societies and
families uniform?'
"Hes, We cn,leavor to he rs nearly alike us
possible. The Shakers have to pass through
seven cycles of progress to correspond with
the seven steps to the temple at Jerusalem
In the first cycle were the tests in favor of
purity, of holding property i'll common and
against war. During that period we decided
to abstain from tho ,sc Of liquors, cider and
tobacco. The second cycle is now opening
III it VIC arc to abstain altogether from meat,
and moro strictly observe the laws of hy-
gicne. And, although wc have been extern
sive purchasers of land, we expect to help the
movement i'll favor of land limitation"
"a description of the daily routine of life
ut Mount Lebanon would be interesting"
"Well; i'll summer we get out of bed at 4:30
o'clock and attend to our hocks and herds.
Breakfast is served at o'clock. 1t consists
of several kinds of bread, leavened and I'M
lcnvcned, made of fine flour, whole meal,
Indian meal, rye and buckwheat; potatoes,
tomatoes, apples, apple sauce, hot apple pie
tea, coffee and hot water. We dino at noon
oil the year round. The bill Of faro includes
vegetable soups, apple dumplings, Indian
meal, rice, vegetables and milk We have
that meal We also have several kinds of
bread hot pies, ten, coffee, milk, hot WATER
apple sauce and fruit in season.
I'VE use cream for shortening purposes, in
stead of lard, and eat n very small amount of
butter A few of our people still tako flesh,
hut We have no beasts killed AT ono time it
was the custom to have slaughtcring done,
but we found that it had bad effect
on the children and young people who were
being brought up as veSetarians. The small
amount of flesh required is procured from
ontsidc 1t has not included pork for thirty
years. We have great faith in vegetables
and fruits. Every year wo stow away about
] 900 bushels of apples to last us through the
winter and spring The produce of our
gardens includes Strawberries, plums, cher
iies asparagus, peas and beans. Of these We
preserve enough in glass jars to supply our
wants until tho next season."
''Ho you rest long after mcns."
"Work is resumed soon after breakfast; hut
after dinner we rest for an hour or longer.
Three evenings of each week arc setnpart for
religious meetings, the devotions being associ-
ated with physical exercise. We have sing
ing twice week, and occasionally union or
social meetings. We go to bed at o o'clock
I'VE are very particular in the matter of
ventilation. Our houses ana bnrns breathe
ms VIC do ourselves. The mop boards con-
nectcd with the halls nrc perforated There
are Archinledean ventilators on the tops Of
the houses Our rooms are heated by steam
and by means of hot air tubes. The floors nro
warmed so that the sisters, whilo at work,
may not suffer from cold feet"
"Are yous houses we'll supplied with bath
roonlss'
"Yes; VIC lave faith III tho bath During
forty years have bathel every day in either
cold or tcpid water"
"Have you succeeded i'll doing anything to
increase the healthfulness of your sleeping
roonlS.'
awe believe in having the sleeping rooms
warmed and purified by the sun. The bed
clothes are hung on pegs around tho rooms,
and allowed to air until after dinner AS
simple means of publication there is nothing
better"
"What is the age of the oldest member of
your famly!"
"Our people live to good old agc. The
oldest member now is IS years "-George
Henry Bassett in Herald of Health